Money blowing in the wind, man takes off with 'cuffs

TAMAQUA

June 04, 2009|The Morning Call

A man stopped Tuesday by Tamaqua police for speeding and possibly being in the country illegally is now also wanted for theft after making off with a police officer's handcuffs locked on his hands, police said.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, the handcuffed man was still on the run, Tamaqua police said.

Harig said he handcuffed the man and searched him, putting the man's items on his squad car. The officer was going to bring the man back to headquarters and alert immigration officials when he noticed the man's money flying away in the wind and went to retrieve it, he said.

As the officer picked up the money, the man, handcuffed from behind, fled, he said.

Harig said he chased the man through a coal company and into some woods, but lost him. Three other males who were in the vehicle and were also believed to be in the country illegally also fled, and only one, a 17-year-old boy, was captured, police said.

Six police departments in Schuylkill County, including state police, assisted in the search. State police also used a helicopter and a tracking dog, but were unable to find the man.

Around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, emergency dispatchers notified police in Lehigh and Northampton counties that the man may have homes in Allentown or Wind Gap. They also said he may still be wearing the handcuffs.